Cracking Open the 27" Apple iMac (2011)

27" Apple iMac teardown (Model: A1312)

In 2011, Apple updated the iMac line with Intel's second-generation Core CPU family and AMD's new Radeon HD 6000-series graphics processors. Apple also replaced the old Mini DisplayPort input with a Thunderbolt port.

In March, I took a look inside the HP Compaq 6000 Pro All-in-one Business PC and couldn't wait to see how the new iMac compared. Follow along as I crack open the 27" Apple iMac (2011).

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Hardware specifications

As of this writing, the 21.5" iMac starts at $1,199 (US), and the 27" iMac starts at $1,699.

Our 27" test unit cost $1,768 (before taxes), and the following technical specifications:

• Processor: 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
• GPU: AMD RadeonHD 6770M 512MB GDDR5
• RAM: 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
• Storage: 1TB Serial ATA Drive
• Display: 27-inch LED-backlit glossy screen (2,560 x 1,440 resolution)
• Optical drive: 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Ports: SDXC card slot, audio line output, audio line input, four USB 2.0, one FireWire 800, two Thunderbolt, Mini DisplayPort output (DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI), Gigabit Ethernet, and IR receiver
• Speakers: Built-in stereo speakers and two internal 20-watt amplifiers
• Camera: FaceTime HD camera
• Input device: Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse
• Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Box contents

Our test machine came with an Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, power cable, OS X disc, and product documentation.

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Front

The 27" Apple iMac weighs a hefty 30.5 pounds and measures 25.6" (W) x 8.15" (D) x 20.4" (H).

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Left side

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Right side

27" Apple iMac teardown: SDXC card and optical drive slots

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Back

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Base

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27" Apple iMac teardown: External ports

Along the back of the 27" Apple iMac are an audio line output, audio line input, four USB 2.0, one FireWire 800, two Thunderbolt, one Mini DisplayPort output (DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI), and one Gigabit Ethernet port.

27" Apple iMac teardown: Model A1312

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Power button

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27" Apple iMac teardown: SDRAM compartment cover

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the SDRAM compartment screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Lifting off the SDRAM compartment cover

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Pulling up on the SDRAM chip release tabs

27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing one of the two 2GB SDRAM chips

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27" Apple iMac teardown: SDRAM chips removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Elpida 2GB PC3-10600S9-10-F1 SDRAM chips

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Separating the front panel from the case

The iMac's from panel is held in place with strong magnets. Using a thin plastic spudger, I separated the magnets attached to the panel from their counterparts mounted to the aluminum case.

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the front panel

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Front panel

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Without the front panel

27" Apple iMac teardown: Magents that hold the front panel in place

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the LCD assembly screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Prying the LCD assembly away from the case

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the LCD assembly from the case

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LCD assembly wires

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Disconnecting the LCD assembly wires and cables

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LCD assembly removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LCD assembly - Back

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LCD assembly - Front

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LG Display LM270WQ1

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27" Apple iMac teardown: First look at the internal hardware

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the hard drive bracket screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the hard drive

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Hard drive removed

27" Apple iMac teardown: 1T Seagate Barracude 7200 RPM hard drive

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the optical drive bracket srews

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the optical drive

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Optical drive removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Sony Optiarc DVD/CD Rewritable Drive AD-5680H

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the wireless card

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Disconnecting the wireless card antenna wires

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Atheros (Qualcomm) AR5BXB112 wireless card

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Atheros (Qualcomm) AR9388-AL1A chip

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Atheros (Qualcomm) AR5BXB112 wireless card - Back

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the SDXC card slot PCB screw

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the SDXC card slot PCB

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27" Apple iMac teardown: SDXC card slot PCB - Front

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27" Apple iMac teardown: SDXC card slot - Back

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the power supply circuit board

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Power supply unit removed

27" Apple iMac teardown: Power supply

27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the LED driver board screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LED driver board removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LED driver board - Front

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LED driver board - Back

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the right-side cooling fan screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Disconnecting the right-side cooling fan wire

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Right-side cooling fan

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Ready to begin removing the motherboard

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Disconnecting the motherboard cables

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the motherboard and cooling assembly screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the motherboard

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Motherboard removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Case with most internal hardware removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Center cooling fan

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27" Apple iMac teardown: FaceTime HD camera

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Left-side cooling fan and speaker

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Right-side speaker

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Delta Electronics EMI filter

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Broadcom BCM92046MD Bluetooth module

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Motherboard with cooling assemblies attached - Top

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Motherboard with cooling assemblies attached - Back

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Disconnecting the remaining motherboard cables

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Disconnecting the GPU cooling assembly's thermal sensor wire

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the GPU cooling assembly screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the GPU cooling assembly bracket screw

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the GPU cooling assembly

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27" Apple iMac teardown: GPU cooling assembly - Bottom

27" Apple iMac teardown: GPU cooling assembly - Top

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the GPU board screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the GPU card

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27" Apple iMac teardown: AMD RadeonHD 6770M GPU - Bottom

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27" Apple iMac teardown: AMD Radeon HD 6770M GPU chip

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Four Samsung K4G10325FE-HC04 GDDR5 chips

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27" Apple iMac teardown: ISL62883 Multiphase PWM Regulator on the GPU board

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the CPU cooling assembly screws

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the CPU cooling assembly

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27" Apple iMac teardown: CPU cooling assembly removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: CPU cooling assembly - Bottom

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27" Apple iMac teardown: CPU cooling assembly - Top

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the GPU cooling assembly bracket

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27" Apple iMac teardown: GPU cooling assembly bracket

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the CPU cooling assembly bracket

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel Platform Controller Hub heat sink attached to motherboard

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel Platform Controller Hub heat sink removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel Platform Conrtoller Hub heat sink

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel Thunderbolt port IC heat sink

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel Thunderbolt port IC heat sink removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the IR receiver board

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27" Apple iMac teardown: IR receiver board

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Another heat sink

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Last motherboard heat sink removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the CPU bracket

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27" Apple iMac teardown: CPU bracket removed

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27" Apple iMac teardown: CPU Bracket

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the last CPU cooling assembly bracket screw

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27" Apple iMac teardown: CPU cooling assembly bracket

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Removing the CPU

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Motherboard - Top

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Motherboard - Bottom

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 - Top

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 - Bottom

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel Platform Controller Hub

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Broadcom BCM57765B0KMLG Integrated Gigabit Ethernet and Memory Card Reader Controller

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Cirrus 4206BCNZ audio controller

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27" Apple iMac teardown: LSI FW643E PCI Express 1394b Link / PHY Open Host Controller Interface

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Two SMSC USX2061 USB controllers

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Parade PS8301

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27" Apple iMac teardown: NXP 1112

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Parade PS8301

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Texas Instruments 58864D and TPS51116 Switching Regulator

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intersil 9563A

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27" Apple iMac teardown: SMSC 1128-7

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Pair of LVC08A chips

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intel L107IA64 EFL Thunderbolt IC

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Texas Instruments SN1010 chip

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Texas Instruments TPA3117 chips

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27" Apple iMac teardown: NXP 6142C chip

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Chip with markings F2117BG20H H82/2117RV

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Intersil ISL6364 CRZ PWM Controller

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Chip with markings IR 9310 H106P S3Z8

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Delta Electronics LFE9249-R 1111C

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Panasonic 3V BR2032 CMOS battery

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27" Apple iMac teardown: Completely disassembled

The 27" Apple iMac (2011) isn't difficult to disassemble, but it can take a very long time. Replacing the RAM, HDD, and optical drive are relatively quick tasks. But, replacing the motherboard, GPU board, or CPU are time-consumming jobs, as you'll need to disconnect lots of cables and remove dozens of screws.

There is however, plenty of room to work inside the 27" iMac's case and Apple uses standard Torx and Phillips screws to hold the internal hardware in place.

This is definitely a machine that most techs should feel comfortable repairing.

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